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Monday, December 30, 2013

“If having a soul means being able to feel love and
loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans. You’ve
nothing to worry about there.”

Alf Wright
aka
James Herriot

The above quote is a response
given by the late British author and veterinarian James Herriot when he addressed
the question whether or not animals have souls and could experience an
afterlife.

His response was received
with appreciation from people all over the world. Herriot was one of the first
well-known animals lovers to address this topic.

If you believe the above then
the possibility exists that some animals do indeed return in ghostly
form.

A popular post on this blog
is about “Ghost Cats” and the intriguing video my group caught of a “possible”
ghost cat. I received many positive responses to this post through email and in
person.

This topic is close to many
people’s hearts.

Numerous witnesses over the
years have seen what they feel are deceased pets come back to visit.

A good book about this topic is Ghostly Animals of America written
by Patricia Edwards Clyne.

Many people have seen the
ghosts of animals over the years--not all of them former pets. The following
story is an unusual one.

There is a busy intersection
in Cook County in a suburb or Chicago.
Until recently this intersection did not have a traffic light. The speed limit
in the area is 45 mph but cars often drive through this intersection going 50
mph plus.

Drivers especially at night
have trouble seeing this intersection because there is a rise, which blocks
their view until they actually cross it.

A riding stable is located
near this intersection. This stable has extensive wooded riding paths and one
of these paths crosses this intersection.

Unfortunately, because of
this dangerous intersection more than one rider has been injured or killed at
dusk or at night when a car has hit them while they crossed this road. Several
horses have been killed in these accidents as well.

Drivers along this road have
reported seeing a strange phenomenon. They see what appears to be a
“smoke grey silhouette of a horse and rider.” Neither figure has
distinguishable features. They are most often seen right in the middle of the
road.

This strange duo is seen at
night crossing the intersection. Some have reported that they saw this horse
and rider appear in front of their cars suddenly but as they slowed down this
“silhouette” just faded away.

Some grisly reports state
that drivers have actually seen one of these accidents reenacted in this
intersection. These accounts include witnesses seeing a rider being thrown from
their saddle and then just disappear. Others state they actually saw a fallen
horse dragged by a car until it came to a complete stop.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Ambrose Small, a millionaire Canadian
theatre producer disappeared in 1919 without a trace. This crime at the time was
touted in international newspapers as the “Crime of the Century.” His
disappearance is considered one of Canada’s great mysteries for this case has
never been solved.

Just the day after Small sold
his theatre chain for 1.7 million dollars he was seen leaving--The Grand Opera House in downtown Toronto, Ontario after a night
performance. He was then seen buying a newspaper and was never seen again.

Toronto Grand Opera House
Last place Small was seen.

A $50,000 reward was offered and
the police conducted an extensive search--literally for years afterward-- but
no valuable leads were ever discovered. Small was declared legally dead in 1923
but the case was not officially closed until 1960.

People are still fascinated by
this case and several books have been written about it.

Yet another mystery is
connected to Ambrose Small for it is said he still watches over--haunts-- his
favorite theatre, The New Grand Opera House located in London, Ontario that he opened in 1901. Today
this theatre is called The Grand Theatre.

Just a month after his
disappearance a night watchman at the New Grand Opera House reported seeing a
ghost that looked like Mr. Small.

Ever since there have been
countless sighting of Ambrose Small in this theatre. Small’s apparition has
been seen by cast, crew and by theatre patrons. He is often
seen in his favorite balcony box sitting in his favorite seat.

Even when his ghost is not seen the seat
on this chair is seen going down when he arrives and popping back up when he
leaves. It is said he never misses an opening night.

He is also often seen walking
the theatres catwalks. Phantom footsteps have been heard for years around the theatre.

A ladies man in life--Small
is said to still be partial to the ladies. Several actresses that have
performed at the theatre over the years state that they heard their name
whispered in their ear and have felt something messing with the hem of their
gowns.

Actors have even reported
seeing him floating above the heads of the audience during performances.

The following are two famous sightings of Ambrose Small's ghost:In 1927, comedian Beatrice Lillie saw Small's ghost beckon to her during a performance. It is said as she moved toward him a theatre prop chandelier crashed down almost hitting her.In the summer of 1957, a teenager Jay Campbell who later was to become a local television meteorologist and his girlfriend saw a figure climbing a ladder off stage. "It really didn't look like a person but from the waist up it had the form of a person."The theatres electrical
equipment often malfunctions. These occurrences are always blamed on Small.

But Small is considered a
benevolent ghost and he performed a great service for the theatre in 1977,
which many appreciate. At this time the theater was undergoing a major
renovation.

A backhoe that was being used
to knock down a wall came to close to the theatre’s historic west wall arch
mural. This painting if destroyed could not be replaced. It is said this
machine stalled without cause just seconds before this wall came crashing down.
It is felt Small stopped this machine. To this day the theatre displays the two remaining bricks that kept this arch in place.

The Grand Theatre Arch

Recently, people in various
parts of the theatre have been hearing an unexplained “hissing sound.” The
source of this sound has yet to be discovered. Some feel it must be Ambrose
Small just making his presence known.

This link is to an interesting 7-8 minute video on youtube that has witness descriptions of many of
the encounters with Ambrose Small’s ghost at The Grand Theatre.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

When aficionados of ghost
stories in Ohio get together there is one story that is always mentioned--the legend
of Gore’s Orphanage. This story takes place in Vermillion, Ohio. It is often listed in
the top ten most popular ghost stories in Ohio.

As mentioned the story of
Gore’s Orphanage is only a “legend” but at the end of this post I will share
the true story of why this area might possibly be haunted.

This legend starts with a
tragic fire. It is stated that a man by the name of Gore ran an orphanage in
the 1800s. He didn’t particularly like children and it is stated he often
abused the chargers that were entrusted to his care.

In one version of this tale
Gore wanting to collect “insurance money” decides to set the orphanage on
fire. He callously stands by and watches all the orphans perish in the fire.

Other tales state that it was
a “disgruntled employee” of Gores who actually set the fire in order to exact
revenge on his former boss. Or it is stated that the culprit was a “crazy
neighbor” who was tired of all the children’s noise.

Yet another reason sometimes
told is more benign in nature. It is stated that an orphan actually knocked a
lantern over which set the barn on fire. Then the flames quickly spread to the
orphanage’s main building.

All these versions mention
that all the orphans perished in this fire.

It is stated that the
neighboring townsfolk not wanting a reminder of this terrible tragedy razed the
remaining burnt shells of the buildings leaving only the corner foundations.

But this tragedy was not so
easily forgotten for soon after the fire the locals started whispering that at
night strange activity occurred near the site where the fire occurred.

Some reported seeing the
ghostly shapes of the dead children playing in the woods.

Other tales included more
dramatic sightings. Witnesses stated they saw these poor orphans still on fire
running and screaming for help.

Yet other sightings included
tales of bright lights that were seen bobbing and weaving through the trees.
Many felt these lights must be these children’s spirits.

One darker tale started to be
circulated. A tall dark ominous figure was seen standing near one of the corner
foundations. It was believed this figure was probably the person that was
responsible for setting the orphanage on fire.

Many witnesses over the years
have seen activity in this area but not for the reasons listed above.

The Gore Orphanage never
existed. A road in the area is called “Gore Orphanage Road” because of two
other reasons. Early surveyors named the road after a “gore” which is a word
they use to denote a wedge-shaped piece of land.

Later the word “Orphanage”
was added when the Orphanage of Light and Hope took ownership of the property
in 1903.

Gatepost at Old Swift Mansion

A man by the name of Joseph Swift
purchased the land in 1817 and over the next 20 years he built a mansion named
after him. He sold this beloved mansion for financial reasons in 1874 to Nicolas and Harriet Kellogg Wilbur.
Tragically, four of their great-grandchildren died in the home from diphtheria.

It was at the height
of the Spiritualism movement and the Wilburs overcome with grief tried to
communicate with their deceased great-grandchildren by holding a series of
séances at the mansion.

In 1895 the Wilbur family
sold the mansion to the Sutton family, 7 years later they sold the property to
the Rev. John Sprunger in 1903 to be used as part of the Orphanage of Light and
Hope that he and his wife founded.

Location of Swift Mansion
Photo: JoshH21

This orphanage closed down in
1916 and the old Swift Mansion left abandoned burnt to the ground in 1923.

It was at this time that the rumors about the hauntings started to be reported.

So children did die on the
property but from diphtheria not a fire. Are the more benign ghost sighting
that are seen in the area near where the Swift Mansion once stood --actually
these four great-grandchildren instead?

In 1992 the old Swift mansion
site and 1500 acres of the Vermillion River Valley were purchased by the Lorain
County Metro Parks.